I haven’t been inside a supermarket since the dawn of the pandemic two years ago but over the previous decades, I enjoyed the wide array of food emporiums offered by West Hollywood. Since this is the kind of place where you can’t take out the trash without running into a celebrity, hitting a local grocery is likely to deliver a sighting.
My first go-to market was rock ‘n’ roll Ralphs, the favorite of late-night shoppers. Dropping by for a few items after the clubs close was always interesting as long-haired, colorfully dressed musician types roamed the aisles in various stages of inebriation. One night I came across 70s heartthrob Rick Springfield in the dairy aisle, looking every inch the rocker in a patchwork denim suit with platform boots.
When I moved into my current crib in central WeHo, the nearest full-service market was the Mayfair Market, which attracted a regular array of celebs. I recall seeing Adam Ant, incognito in running shorts and a matching jacket with no makeup, checking out the magazine rack in the 80s. In the 90s, I spied Axl Rose standing in front of me at the checkout wearing a Cathouse jacket with a bandana around his hair and mirrored shades. He was buying a copy of RIP magazine. I didn’t check to see if he was on the cover. Once I shared a produce aisle with supermodel Cindy Crawford, who appeared to have come after working out since she was wearing leggings and a tank top. I got a close-up look at her famous mole when she leaned across me to grab a veggie.
When I moved back to WeHo in 2011, I checked out the local transportation options for seniors and discovered the Party Bus. That’s what some of us regulars dubbed the weekly Friday afternoon jaunt to a nearby Trader Joe’s. Our driver David always took good care of us, making sure that both we and our groceries were delivered to our doorways safely.
The most memorable of the regulars was Frances Davis, known as “The Diva.” The 80-something former wife of Miles Davis had led a most fascinating life and regaled us with memories of her exploits which included being a member of the original cast of “West Side Story” on Broadway. After fleeing her abusive marriage with the musical legend, she resumed her dancing career, including an appearance as a dancer in Elvis Presley’s 1968 “Comeback Special.” All three WeHo Trader Joe’s locations are favorites with famous faces and our sightings included Rupaul (not in drag) and Chaz Bono. Alas, those Friday jaunts just weren’t as much fun after Frances left us in 2018.
So while I am grateful to Amazon Fresh for two years of grocery deliveries, I hope to be able to go shopping in person sometime in the near future, both for the yummies and the potential celeb sightings. What’s your favorite market for star-gazing?
Many years ago at the old Trader Joe’s on SM Blvd. I saw a guy who was CLEARLY in an over-the-top disguise. He did nothing but bring attention to himself because of it and it wasn’t hard to discern it was Matt LaBlanc. He knew it too and just had a sheepish grin on his face. I half expected him to take a bow on his way out the door.
“I haven’t been inside a supermarket since the dawn of the pandemic two years ago”. The woke, white, over-educated reveal themselves to be who they actually are – ignorant cowards. While Covid is an extremely serious disease and deadly for some, 78% of the country has yet to be infected in two years. We developed effective vaccines in less than 12 months. What is the plan to treat the mental health pandemic affecting people like Ms. Cauthen???
You sound neither rational nor sane. Given that I’m 73, disabled, have underlying conditions and don’t drive, I stand by my decisions. It sounds like you could use a little empathy for your fellow citizens.
sounds like this person is angry from the inside out and there is no changing that. I love your stories. Don’t feed the hostile.
Victimhood has currency. The fact that you feel the need to affirm your position on the intersectional hierarchy says everything about you. Regarding empathy, I suspect you only grant that to people who think like you.
WOW, look how how stupid you can be. In print, no less. Who’s the coward now.
While living near WeHo and then Hancock Park in the 1980s, my partner and I spotted celebs all the time, mostly at high-end department stores like Needless Markup in Beverly Hills, but also at our apartment building (Ravenswood). And, not surprisingly, at Cedars, where I was employed at the time.
Nothing could beat Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset, where Frances was hostess. Esther Williams was a regular, and enjoyed her wine.
Gelsons and the former Chalet Gourmet (Fairfax and Sunset) now Bristol Farms, always great celebrity siting places. Jay Leno loves Gelsons I see him there all the time as well as Johnny Mathis and Charlize Theron with her children. People recognize them but tend to leave them alone
Bristol Farms is the best for celeb sightings. I’ve seen everyone from Billy Gibbons to Diahann Carroll.
I saw Carl Reiner at Pavilions many years ago, as well as Billy and Marilyn McCoo (Fifth Dimension), Jessica Walters, Chaz Bono, Bo Derek, Ron Pallilo (Welcome Back Kotter), Jane Lynch, Rene Russo, Peter Bogdanovich, Seal, and Wilt Chamberlain (also many years ago). As soon as I post this I will think of more, and this is only at Pavilions (or Safeway, as it once was named). At other stores I could name many more but I am going to limit this to only this one store.
I should have said Billy DAVIS and Marilyn McCoo, and I could add George Hamilton to this Pavilions (or Safeway) list.
Love reading your recollections … !
Nostalgia is great. How about some current Weho news? I have an ongoing conversation with Jay and Mavis Leno on Sunday evenings at Pavilions and Jay and my dog are on ice cream terms (long story). But space on Wehoville is short so let’s stay current.
The space here is short? This isn’t paper we’re reading!
Over the years while shopping at the SMB Pavillions (Formerly Safeway) I’ve seen Keanu Reeves, Jim Brown, Brock Peters, Richard Benjamin, Sir Ben Kingsley. There were others I’m sure but these are the ones I remember.
Ms. Cauthen mentions the Mayfair Market. For the unitiated, the Mayfair is the current Gelson’s. On two separate occasions there back in the early 80s, I stood right behind Jerry Seinfeld and then Johnny Mathis as we saw our items on the conveyor belt approach the cashier. Just like two ordinary people who, like me, shopped late at night.
Really, no supermarket in two -your lucky- I have at least two trips a week Yep there are movie directors, recording producers, singers, even people that won the The Voice over the 100s of seasons. I see my high school friends-stars-or Sarah Silverman and many other comics. Wait my condo was full of them so is DOHENY towers …favorite writers and authors of screenplays Just the normal people that work in the area making music and films.
I saw Alice Cooper a couple years ago at the CVS on SMB/La Cienega. There was something especially ironic seeing someone so famous for being crazy in a place as ordinary as CVS buying diet Coke. I barely recognized him.
Love it